Bhujanga Tandava is one of the aspects of Tandava dance of Shiva. Hindu dance has two broad aspects, the Tandava associated with masculine vigor and the Lasya identified with feminine grace. Shiva is considered to be the originator of the Tandava form of dance while Goddess Parvati is associated with the Lasya form.
The Tandava element is divided into margi and deshi. The
margi consists of seven types of brahmins. Each brahmin consists of gatis, karanas
and caris. For eat gati, there is a separate tala (rhythm) but no tala is
prescribed for karanas or caris. Each tala has a specific Shabda (bol-sor
sollu.)
The fourth brahmin, Bhujanga brahmin, begins with nagabandha
hasta; then abhanga tala on which various movements have to be executed. Bhujanga
Tandava has its own words – Tekitathongatha-Tadhikakukinakajhe. The comes the
simhagati with its own tala and Shabda and then ends with Simhavikridita
Karana.
Thus Bhujanga Tandava is one of the brahmins which specifies
the various movements to be followed in the Tandava dance form. The deshi
Tandava is nothing but an offshoot of margi but using deshi karanas and charis
and not those given in Natyashastra.